Wearable Sensor Technology to Predict Core Body Temperature: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Heat-related illnesses, which range from heat exhaustion to heatstroke, affect thousands of individuals worldwide every year and are characterized by extreme hyperthermia with the core body temperature (CBT) usually > 40 °C, decline in physical and athletic performance, CNS dysfunction, and, eventually, multiorgan failure. The measurement of CBT has been shown to predict heat-related illness and its severity, but the current measurement methods are not practical for use in high acuity and high motion settings due to their invasive and obstructive nature or excessive costs. Noninvasive predictions of CBT using wearable technology and predictive algorithms offer the potential for continuous CBT monitoring and early intervention to prevent HRI in athletic, military, and intense work environments. Thus far, there has been a lack of peer-reviewed literature assessing the efficacy of wearable devices and predictive analytics to predict CBT to mitigate heat-related illness. This systematic review identified 20 studies representing a total of 25 distinct algorithms to predict the core body temperature using wearable technology. While a high accuracy in prediction was noted, with 17 out of 18 algorithms meeting the clinical validity standards. few algorithms incorporated individual and environmental data into their core body temperature prediction algorithms, despite the known impact of individual health and situational and environmental factors on CBT. Robust machine learning methods offer the ability to develop more accurate, reliable, and personalized CBT prediction algorithms using wearable devices by including additional data on user characteristics, workout intensity, and the surrounding environment. The integration and interoperability of CBT prediction algorithms with existing heat-related illness prevention and treatment tools, including heat indices such as the WBGT, athlete management systems, and electronic medical records, will further prevent HRI and increase the availability and speed of data access during critical heat events, improving the clinical decision-making process for athletic trainers and physicians, sports scientists, employers, and military officers.

Wearable and ingestible technology to evaluate and prevent exertional heat illness: A narrative review

“…Although these companies advertise accurate temperature measurements and utility in preventing heat illness, there are few data to support this in the literature. In a 2022 systematic review, Dolson et al reviewed 20 studies from 25 distinct algorithms to predict core temperature with wearable technology 13 . Although a high prediction accuracy was identified, only some of them used individual or environmental data in the algorithm, with the authors concluding that further work and integration with other variables is needed.…”

“…In a 2022 systematic review, Dolson et al reviewed 20 studies from 25 distinct algorithms to predict core temperature with wearable technology. 13 Although a high prediction accuracy was identified, only some of them used individual or environmental data in the algorithm, with the authors concluding that further work and integration with other variables is needed. Table 2 highlights articles published after the 2022 systematic review, with all manuscripts identifying unacceptable limits of agreement, and in the case of Pearson et al, 27 not suitable for estimating core temperature.…”

“…After reviewing titles and abstracts for relevant content and duplicates, the authors condensed the review to 33 relevant articles. On further review, as one of the remaining publications was a systematic review 13 that encompassed a selection of extracted articles, those articles were removed to reduce duplication. Following the removal, 15 articles remained for use in this manuscript.…”

Wearable Multisensor Ring-Shaped Probe for Assessing Stress and Blood Oxygenation: Design and Preliminary Measurements

“…The real-time assessment of stress levels conducted through a wearable device can pave the way to improve anxiety management through the so-called HRV biofeedback [ 71 ]. Finally, a further upgrade of the prototype should also foresee the integration within a single compact board of both the sensors and the microcontroller, together with other wearable sensors (e.g., body temperature sensor) potentially useful for a more complete health status assessment or for motion artifact removal [ 66 , 72 , 73 , 74 ].…”

Delayed sleep–wake phase disorder and its related sleep behaviors in the young generation

“…Previously, CBT assessment was a highly invasive approach that used a rectal probe. In recent years, a simple non-invasive tool that can be attached to the surface of the chest or other body parts has been developed to assess CBT (37,38). Melatonin secretion can be measured through serial salivary assays, serum assays, or the measurement of urinary 6-sulphatoxymelatonin.…”